We conducted a retrospective case-control study to evaluate the factors predictive of hip fractures in elderly patients.

We studied 172 patients age 70 years or older who sustained hip fractures with minor injuries between January 2002 and January 2007. We analyzed bone mineral density, comorbidities, body mass index, and the activities of daily living (ADL) scale. One hundred eighty patients (control subjects) with no history of fracture were matched to the study subjects with respect to age and sex.

Multivariate logistic regression showed that female sex, low bone mineral density, high ADL scale, cerebral vascular attack, and knee osteoarthritis were associated with an increased incidence of hip fracture.

Female sex, low bone mineral density, and high ADL scale were related to hip fractures in the elderly. Knee osteoarthritis should be regarded as an independent risk factor for fractures because of an increased risk of falling.